Osteospermum plant named ‘GG DEL WC06’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Osteospermum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large daisy type inflorescences, freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with continuous blooming from spring through autumn, bright white ray florets, multiple stripes of violet, blue and purple on under surface of ray florets and dark blue disc florets.

Latin name of the genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘GG DEL WC06’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘GG DEL WC06’ is a product of open pollination in a heterogeneous population of Osteospermum mass selection. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Leo Van Zanten in May 2004 in Carpinteria, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘GG DEL WC06’ by cuttings from adventitious shoots was performed in Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘GG DEL WC06’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘GG DEL WC06.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘GG DEL WC06’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum cultivar:

-   -   1. Large daisy type inflorescence;     -   2. Very bright white ray florets;     -   3. Dark blue disc florets;     -   4. Multiple stripes of violet, blue and purple on under surface         of ray florets; and     -   5. A free branching habit.

There is no parent variety to compare to ‘GG DEL WC06’.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Cape Daisy Nairobi’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,340), ‘GG DEL WC06’ is shorter but wider than the comparable variety. Also, the leaves of ‘GG DEL WC06’ are much smaller and a different shape. Additionally, there are more disc florets, making a wider disc diameter than the comparable variety. Further, the ray florets are longer and wider, though the inflorescence diameter of ‘GG DEL WC06’ is smaller than that of ‘Cape Daisy Nairobi.’ Finally, the under surface of the ray florets of the new variety are much darker and have a wider range of violet-blue colors compared to the very light purple under surface of the ray florets of the comparable variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘GG DEL WC06’ grown in a 6-inch pot, planted late October and grown outdoors. The plant is 18 weeks old. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘GG DEL WC06’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif. , during the months of October through February. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar ‘GG DEL     WC06.’ -   Commercial classification: Garden-type Osteospermum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 10 to 14 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding outwardly spreading herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 21 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 53 cm. -   Growth rate: Vigorous. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 8 cm. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 62. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 130 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 3.6 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Abruptly acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Entire with occasional tiny serrations.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A.             Young foliage under side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage             upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under             side: Near Green 137A.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near             Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near             Yellow-Green 144B. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with continuous blooming from spring through             autumn and year round in a greenhouse environment.         -   Inflorescence form.—Daisy.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout February to             September in temperature regions.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately 6             open inflorescences.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 6.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 5 to 10             days, longevity of individual flowers are very dependent on             temperature and light conditions.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Smooth, velvety.         -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—18.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Slightly cupped, facing upward or outward.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 4.2 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.6 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: At base, two stripes             of near Violet-Blue 90A; brighter than White 155D and near             Violet-Blue 90A at extreme tip. Upper surface at maturity:             At base, two stripes of near Violet-Blue 90A; brighter than             White 155D and near Violet-Blue 90A at extreme tip. Upper             surface at fading: At base, two stripes of near Violet-Blue             90A; brighter than White 155D and near Violet-Blue 90B at             extreme tip. Under surface at first opening: Near Purple 76D             with longitudinal stripes of near Violet-Blue 97B, stripes             of near Violet 84B and stripes of near Blue 102C. Under             surface at maturity: Near Purple 76D with longitudinal             stripes of near Violet-Blue 97B, stripes of near Violet 84B             and stripes of near Blue 102C. Under surface at fading: Near             Purple 76D with longitudinal stripes of near Violet-Blue             97B, stripes of near Violet 84B and stripes of near Blue             102C. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 72.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Apex.—Five-pointed.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Violet-Blue 93A. At maturity:             Near Violet-Blue 93A. At fading: Near Violet-Blue 93A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 14.3 cm.         -   Angle.—Terminal peduncles, erect; secondary and tertiary             peduncles, about 45° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 146B with shades of Yellow-Green             148A.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Form.—Ovoid to elliptic.         -   Color.—Near Green 137A. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 15.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green             137A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium: Present on disc florets only.     -   -   Number of stamens.—5.         -   Anther shape.—Linear.         -   Anther length.—Approximately 1.4 mm.         -   Anther color.—Near Violet-Blue 93A.         -   Amount of pollen.—Not abundant.         -   Pollen color.—Near Yellow-Orange 21A. -   Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets.     -   -   Pistil number.—One.         -   Pistil length.—Approximately 5 mm.         -   Stigma shape.—Two parted.         -   Stigma length.—Approximately 1.1 mm.         -   Stigma color.—Near Purple 79A.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Style color.—Near Purple 79A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to disease     or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Plants are moderately drought     tolerant. Plants need cold, less than 12.8° C. for flower induction. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘GG DEL WC06’ as herein illustrated and described. 